UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres paid a visit to Lesvos island, which has received the biggest refugee and migration flows since the beginning of the year.

“It is the appropriate time for an appeal to the European Union that must finally cooperate in order give an answer to this crisis. Because this crisis is not only a problem of Lesvos, it is not only a problem of Greece, it is European problem,” he underlined.

According to Guterres, “Europe must increase humanitarian assistance in Syria but also in neighboring countries such as Jordan, Turkey, Iraq that host many refugees.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees stressed that “the European Union must show solidarity with Greece. It should help the asylum procedures and allocate these people fairly to all countries, to all Member States. But it must help Greece to create the mechanisms that will help people not entitled to asylum to return to their countries always in respect to their dignity and human rights.”

Guterres also expressed his gratitude for the generosity, hospitality and solidarity expressed by the people and the authorities of Lesvos.